Three stars (ice hockey)

The three stars in ice hockey are the three best players in a game as chosen by a third party, with the first star considered the best of the three players, akin to the man of the match in other sports. Usually, the top point scorers or outstanding goaltenders are designated the three stars, but other players may be considered by affecting the game by other means (e.g. consistent physical play, many steals, blocked shots, etc.).

The usage of three stars has since expanded greatly. All professional hockey teams (or radio/television broadcasts of those teams) in North America award three stars at the end of each game, and many amateur and collegiate leagues (or broadcasts of their games) do as well. The National Hockey League awards three stars during every game, in both the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, and not just limited to those shown on HNIC. Media representatives of the home team make the selections. It also awards a nightly set of three stars,[2] which are the three best players out of all who played a game in the league on a given night. Also, in the 2007–08 NHL season, the previous awards of “Offensive Player of the Week” and “Defensive Player of the Week” were replaced by the “Three Stars of the Week”, while the similar awards of “Offensive Player of the Month” and “Defensive Player of the Month” were replaced by the “Three Stars of the Month”.

The NHL also has a system which awards points to its nightly three stars: 30 points to the first star, 20 points to the second, and 10 to the third.[2] It keeps a running tally of the number of points each player has been awarded [1]. NHL teams may use these standings; for example, the Vancouver Canucks award a sum to a charity chosen by its player who earned the highest number of points that month. The Molson Cup is also awarded to the top point-earner of the year of each Canadian team.

The three star selections for a game, being a “fun” statistic, do not ordinarily have an impact on any other aspect of the game. As such, there have been instances in which the three stars have been awarded in an unexpected way, often to recognize a single player's accomplishments.

On April 12, 1996, the original Winnipeg Jets played their final regular season game against the Los Angeles Kings. The Jets won the game 5-3, advancing them to the playoffs. The first star was awarded to the Winnipeg hockey fans.

On April 15, 1999, New York RangerWayne Gretzky was awarded all three stars in his last game in Canada, and again the following night in New York for his final game, making him the only NHL player named as sole star on multiple occasions.

On April 9, 2002, Saku Koivu made his comeback in the 80th regular-season game of the Montreal Canadiens after being absent due to a long battle against cancer in a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators. The Canadiens won that game, and Koivu got all 3 stars of the game.

On October 11, 2007, Mats Sundin broke two Toronto Maple Leafs club records by scoring his 390th goal and his 917th point as a Leaf to best Darryl Sittler, who had held the previous club records of 389 goals and 916 points. Subsequently, the three stars of the game were announced as “Sundin, Sundin, and Sundin”.[4]

On April 5, 2008 in the final game of the season between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, the Flames won handily over the Canucks 7-1. Although Canuck Trevor Linden did not earn a point, nor did he play well enough to receive a star in a regular game, he was awarded the game's first star as it was rumoured (and later confirmed) it would be the final game of his long career.[5]

On November 1, 2013, in a game between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers, Flyers goalie Ray Emery entered in the second period and gave up four goals in under 23 minutes of play, while Capitals goalie Braden Holtby posted a shutout. Emery was eventually ejected after instigating a fight with Holtby in the 7-0 Capitals victory. Emery was awarded the third star and Holtby did not receive a star.

On March 27, 2014, the Boston Fire Department was selected as first star of the night's Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks game, in honor of the department's efforts and two firefighters that were killed in a large fire in Boston the prior day. Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask were named second and third stars, respectively, in a 3-0 Bruins victory.[7]

On April 23, 2015 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals between the Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets, the Jets fans were awarded the 3rd star by the Canadian Sportsnet television broadcast for their incredible support throughout the season and playoffs. The official 3rd star of the game was Mark Stuart